Montrealalouettes.com
Edmonton – Despite a hard-fought game from the Alouettes, the Eskimos have won the game by the score of 40 – 22.
About two hours prior to opening kickoff, the Alouettes announced that head coach and GM Jim Popp did not make the trip to Edmonton due to an illness.
He was replaced on the sidelines by defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe.
Thorpe is the mastermind behind a stingy Alouettes defence that has allowed a mere 20.8 points per game this season. His unit has even had success against a potent Eskimos offence this season, allowing just 15 points in a losing effort earlier this season.
One drive after former Alouettes kicker Sean Whyte gave the Esks a 3-0 lead thanks to a 32-yard field goal, Reilly guided the Eskimos on a 9-play, 71 yard drive that was culminated by a six-yard TD strike to Derel Walker.
But the Alouettes would respond quickly at the start of the second frame. Kevin Glenn, who was making his third start as Montreal’s starting QB, orchestrated an impressive eight-play, 51-yard drive that saw receiver B.J. Cunningham haul in his second TD of the season.
On the drive, Glenn was good on three of his four passes, while tailback Tyrell Sutton ran the ball three times for a combined gain of 32 yards.
Glenn’s first half success would continue into the late stages of the first half.
After fumbling the ball away a drive earlier, the wily veteran and the Montreal offence proceeded to pound the ball directly at the Eskimos, with Sutton and fellow RB Brandon Rutley combining for 53 yards on five-straight rushing plays.
Glenn then capped off the drive by finding former Eskimo Fred Stamps with a 37-yard dart for a touchdown. The score was Stamps’ fifth in his last six games.
In the third quarter, the Alouettes’ offensive unit would once again put together a nice mix of passing and rushing plays that would result in six points. Two plays after Sutton romped for 28 yards, Glenn hooked up with Cunningham once again, this time for a 30-yard score to give the Als a 22-19 lead.
Next week, the Alouettes will play their last game of the season against the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 1st at 1 P.M.
